Automatically-governed condensing device



Patented iay 17,1927.

UNITED STATES- ICE.

EDGAR R. HAWLEY AND CARL SCOTT, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

' AUTOMATICALLY-GOVERNED CONDENSING DEVICE.

Application filed February 1, 1926. Serial No. 85,334.

This invention relates to an automatically governed condensing device,and its principal objects are to provide:

First. Means for automaticall governing the abstraction of heat from auid.

Second. To so govern automatically, the abstraction ofheat from a fluidthat no greater quantity of fluid is drawn from the supply than isactually required to fulfillthe purpose for which the heat from saidlluid is used.

Third. Be especially applicable to steam heating systems, where thecondensing unit may consist of a radiator.

l ourth. Accomplish its purpose efficiently and'economically.

Fifth. Be simple and durable in operation.

It has come to our attention that in modern steam heating systems thereexists a need for an eilicient device which shall automatically controlthe amount of steam supplied to a heating unit, so that thepredetermined heating demand shall always be met, and yet, that no moresteam shall i be drawn from the source of supply than is actually neededto satisfy that demand.

Further, such a device must be thoroughly reliable under allcircumstances, ,and must not have its operation interfered with, nor 80be impaired by impurities which may be car? ried by the steam, nor bydirt or grit which may exist in the raidators or other-condensing unitin which the steam is used.

While the present invention is designed to -be particularly desirable inconnection with steam heating ytems, its usefulness is by no meansrestricted thereto.

In accomplishing the objects. previously outlined, the steam is admittedto the radiator through a specially designed valve controlled by athermostatic element which is actuated by any steam that may have passedthrough the radiators and escaped therefrom as an excess amount over andabove the quantity which the radiator can utilize in its normalfunctions; in other words, only steam that is actually condensed in theradiator produces its maximum heating effect, and any steam that escapesfrom the radiator at its discharge, carries heat which represents aloss, therefore, the function of the present invention is to cause suchescaping steam to immediately actuate the thermostatic element, therebycutting off from the radiator any further fresh supply of steam untilsuch a time as the waste steam discharged from the radiator, issubstantially reduced to zero.

The features of this invention for which the protection of LettersPatent is desired, are collectively grouped in the claims by which thisspecification is concluded;

In the drawing, which illustrates merely a limited application of thedevice, the figure represents a longitudinal vertical center sectionthrough the device. I 7

Referring to the drawing, 10, 10 and 10 indicate the successive sectionsof an ordinary radiator or condensing unit, these being connected toeach. other by the nipples 12 in the usual manner. a At l4.is the bodyof the thermostatic, control valve having the inlet 15 and the dischargeconnection 16. In the chamber 17 is located the cage 18 within which isoperatively disposed the thermostatic element 19. At its lower end thethermostatic element 19 is held sationary by the stem 20, being lockedthereto by the nut 20 while above, it carries the stem 21 which isshouldered and secured to the diaphragm 24 by the nut 25. Stem. 21carries the threaded extension 26, upon which is adjustably secured thevalve 27, the latter being locked in place by the nut 28, and arrangedto be seated against the lower circumference of the orifice 29.

At is a shut-off valve arranged to contact the seat 31 which is mountedon the threaded enlargement 32 of the stem 34, the latter carrying therigidly secured wheel 35 for manual or mechanical operation.

The valve body 14. has the terminal neck 36 forming a portion of a unionof which the nipple 37, secured by threading in the radiator section 10,forms the other portion, the two being connected by the sleeve nut 38 inthe usual manner. Within the terminal neck 36 is the threaded connectionor boss 40 arranged to receive one end of the, conductor pipe 41 whichis preferably inthe form of 100 a hollow stem having its far terminus inor near the radiator section 10 The nipples 12'and the lower parts ofthe radiator sections are of suflicient size to provide thev I necessaryspace around conductor 41;to cause 1 the steam to circulate freely. Thelowerpart of the radiator, including the nipples 12, may be regarded asdefining a conductor for. fluid, in the present instance, a return con-I doctor, this conductor forming preferably 10 an integral part of theradiator, and leading through the nipple 37, to the outlet passageshown), enters through the pipe indicated by the dotted lines at 45, andfollows substantially the course indicated by the. arrows, intoandthrough the conductor pipe 41, to the far end of the radiator.

The movement of the steam in the radiator is indicated largely by arrows46, 47 and 48. So long as the radiator has the capacity, to condense thefull quantity of steam supplied, the valve 27 remains open toacorresponding extent, but the moment there is an e cess of live steam,this excess ator.

takes substantially the path indicated by arrow 49 and flows through thepassage 42 into the chamber 17, where it actuates the thermostaticelement 19, causing the latter to push the valve 27 towards its seat,thereby throttling the supply of steam to the radi- The moment, however,that there ceases to be an excess of steam to flow into chamber v17, thethermostatic element 19 responds, and when cooled sufliciently, drawsthe valve 27 away from the seat, again al lowing an increased volume oflive steam to enter the radiator. Thus, the valve 27 fluctuates betweenthe open and closed position in accordance with the condensing capacityof the radiator. Y t

The outlet pipe indicated by the dotted lines 50, leads toany suitablepoint of discharge and 'may beopen to the atmosphere, if desired.Therefore. any condensate which has a tendency to collect in the chamber17, runs off freely and may be accompanied by any foreign matterinadvertently collected in chamber 17. Furthermore, the chamber 17 maybe easily cleaned by removing the cover 43.

It "is evident that there is practically no waste of live steam and thatthere are no operative parts of the device whatsoever, which can beaffected by dirt or grit or other matter which may accidentally find itsWay into the system. While uncond thev condensing unit causes thethrottling valve to move towards its seat, it is evident that the coolerair or water of condensation in the system, as the case may be, causesthe throttling valve to move away from its seat.

While a specific embodiment of this invention is herein shown anddescribed, it is to be clearly understood that all the detailed partsthereof, may, or may not, be shown in the l ensed steam escaping frompreferred forms, and further, that the preferred forms may be varied,from time to time as the development of this invention and the arts towhich it appertains, progress. Therefore, that which forms an essentialand characteristic part of this invention will be readily discerniblefrom the claims in which its spirit is generalized.

Having fully what we claim is:

described" our invention,

1, In an automatically governed condensing device, a chamberedcondensing unit, an inlet for fluid thereto, a closure for said inlet,thermostatic means for operating said closure, a conductor for fluidextending from said inlet to a part of the condensing unit remote fromsaid inlet, said conductor being located within the condensing unit, an

outlet being contiguous to and structurally integral with said admittingmeans, and a thermostatic control for said admitting means, saidthermostatic control being arranged for actuation by condensate passingbeyond said outlet.

3. In an automatically governed condens- I ing device, a; chamberedcondensing unit, a

conductor for fluid extending into, and through the major portion of,the said condensing unit, an inlet valve arranged to control passage offluid through said conductor, thermostatic means for actuating saidvalve, and means for causing any fluid passing through and beyond saidconductor to influence said thermostatic means.

' 4. In anautomatically governed condensing device, a condensing unithaving defined integrall therewith a chambered portion arrange to serveas a conductor for fluid, another conductor for fluid located withinsaid chambered portion, and thermostatically actuated means arranged tobe operated by temperature changes in fluid discharged from thecondensing unit, for the purpose of maintaining given temperatureswithin said condensing unit.

5. The combination with a chambered condensing unit, of a body havingintegrally defined therein, a fluid-supply compartment, a fluid wastecompartment, a thermostatically. operated valve positioned to controlpassage of fluid through the supply compartment, a conductor for fluidextending from said supply compartment into and through the major partof said condensing unit, an.

outlet from said condensing unit into said waste compartment, and athermostat located within the said waste compartment, the combinationbeing so arranged that the thermostatic operation shall be caused bytempera.

,therein, of a conductor for fluid extending into and through the majorportion of said assage, a thermostatically actuated throtting valvelocated to control passage through the fluid conductor, and a wasteconductor.

arranged to relieve the condensing unit of fluid, movement of saidthrottling valve being governed by temperature changes in the fluidpassing through the said waste con ductor.

7. ,The combination with a condensing unit, of a conductor for supplyingsteam thereto, said supply conductor located wholly -within thecondensing unit, a waste conductor in communication with said supplyconductor, said Waste conductor located wholly within the condensingunit, a ther- Inostatically operated throttling valve to control passagethrough the supply conductor, the thermostatic efl'ect being due totemperature changes of fluid discharged from the said waste conductor,said valve bein arranged to supply steam to the eondenslng unit inproportion to the condensate load placed upon the condensing unit, butpreventing the escape of any substantial amount of steam into the wasteconductor.

8. A throttling valve having a body, a radiator operatively associatedtherewith, means for defining a passage for conducting fluid from saidbody to substantially the far end of said radiator, and means fordefining a second passage for conducting fluid from the far end of saidradiator back to the said body, both said passages lying whollywithinthe radiator, but the defining means of one passage located insidethe defining means of the other passage.

9. A Valve body comprising an inlet compartment having a valve therein,a waste compartment having a thermostatic element therein, saidthermostatic element being 3,1: ranged to actuate said valve, a terminalintegral with said body, a chambered condensing unit connected to saidterminal, a hollow stem having one end thereof disposed within saidterminal and arranged to conduct fluid from said inletcompartment {to aremote portion of said condensing unit and a passage defined within thesaid'terminal exterior to said stem. the said passage being arranged toconduct fluid from the condensing unit into the said waste compartment.

In testimony whereof, we sign our names hereto. 7

' EDGAR R. HAEY.

W, SCOTT.

